Iraq Muslims call for ending bloodshed

[sonz]

Muslims, both Sunnis and Shias, called for ending bloodshed that has wracked Iraq since the country’s elections that were held last month, claiming the lives of dozens of innocent civilians, The Associated Press reported.

The calls also included an immediate withdrawal of U.S. occupying troops in Iraq.

Despite the horrific situation in the Iraqi streets, Muslims celebrated the Eid ul Adha with slaughtering lambs, sweets and visits to relatives.

"This Eid is a happy day for all Muslims, especially Iraqis. But it comes after painful events that happened in Karbala and Ramadi," said Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, referring to the bombings that killed more than 120 people in the Shia city of Karbala and a police recruiting center in Ramadi.

Another attack targeting the heavily fortified Interior Ministry compound in the Iraqi capital killed 29 Iraqis.

Analysts say that there has been a notable surge in violence since the Dec. 15 elections, with 498 Iraqis and 54 U.S. forces killed in a few days.

"We call upon everybody to make the general interest of Iraq their top priority, away from sectarian or private interests. We also call on everyone to respect the will of the people as it is shown by the ballots.

"We call on everybody to stop screaming, shuffling the cards and forging the facts," Iraq's leading Shia politician, United Iraqi Alliance leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim said in an Eid message.

"National unity can be achieved when everybody recognize the facts and accepts their outcome. Any violation of this undoubtedly will lead to the continuation of chaos and drag the country to more disasters," he added.

* Iraqi Oil Minister returns to his post

Meanwhile, Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr Al Ulum who resigned last month protesting against fuel price hikes has returned to his post.

"Bahr Al Ulum has resumed his activities as oil minister after taking back his resignation at the request of the Prime Minister (Ibrahim Jaafari), members of the cabinet and certain religious leaders," said a statement released Monday.

Ulum held a meeting of oil ministry officials to consider the distribution of oil products.

After the resignation of Bahr al-Ulum's, disgraced former U.S. ally and current Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi was named as his temporary replacement.

Being placed in such a powerful position would have received criticism and resistance from Washington, which fell out with Chalabi shortly after the war was launched in March 2003.

Bahr al-Ulum was protesting at a government decision to treble oil prices to reduce state subsidies which account for nearly half of the government's budget.

The move sparked massive demonstrations all over the country.